Denver Date Ideas

315 steps across 69 rows, 145 feet of elevation gain at 6,450 feet. People run stairs here year-round. Trading Post Trail is a 1.4-mile easy loop, Red Rocks Trail is a 6-mile loop with 1,300 feet of gain. Stairs close during concerts and events.

Opened 2018. 8-lane lap pool, leisure pool with lazy river, gym with basketball and volleyball courts, weight room, fitness studios, outdoor climbing wall. Monthly membership $31. Drop-in available.

Ten lighted hard courts in Washington Park, free and first-come first-served. One-hour courtesy limit when others are waiting. Park around it has a 2.6-mile jogging loop and a lake.

40-mile paved trail from Confluence Park in LoDo southeast to Cherry Creek State Park. The popular 11-mile stretch from Confluence Park to the reservoir is flat and heavily used by cyclists, runners, and skaters. Connects to the Platte River Trail for a 100+ mile network.

40,000-square-foot climbing gym in RiNo with nearly 200 boulder problems, lead and top-rope walls, fitness area, yoga. Same building as Improper City (cafe, food trucks, beer garden). Day pass $29, 7-visit pass $182. Shoe rental extra.

Public outdoor pool with an Olympic-sized swimming area, regular swim area, and kids splash area. Open June through early August. $3.50 drop-in for adults, free under 3. Gets busy.

284 acres around Denver's largest lake. 2.6-mile flat paved loop for running, walking, biking. Tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, two playgrounds, and kayaking/paddleboarding on the lake (non-motorized boats allowed).

Public tennis and pickleball facility with indoor and outdoor courts. Pay-as-you-play, no residency requirements. League play, clinics, private lessons. Court fees start at $6.

18-acre park where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte in LoDo. The 16th Street Wave is a man-made whitewater feature for kayaking, river surfing, and SUP. Confluence Kayaks (2301 7th St) rents gear nearby. Free to visit.

Well-maintained park with lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, walking/biking path, soccer and softball fields, playground. Free. Good courts for southwest Denver.

Rec center in Washington Park with indoor pool, gym, weight room, fitness classes. $7 drop-in, $31/month membership. Park around it has a 2.6-mile gravel jogging loop, two lakes, and open fields for pickup sports.

330 acres with a gravel 5K jogging loop, tennis courts, handball court, soccer and football fields, softball diamonds, horseshoe pits. Two lakes, Rocky Mountain views. Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature & Science are both inside the park. Free.

19,000-square-foot bouldering gym in the Golden Triangle. Bouldering only (no ropes), so beginners can just show up. All skill levels, fitness area, yoga, and beer on tap. Day pass $22, shoe rental $5.

53,000+ square feet of climbable terrain with 65-foot walls. Lead, top rope, bouldering, fitness center, yoga. Formerly Earth Treks. Day pass $29. Kids programs available. 10-minute drive from downtown.

7.5-acre free mountain bike park with slopestyle course, dirt jumps, pump tracks, and skills course. All levels. Free to ride, free parking. Bring your own bike, no rentals on-site. Winter snow tubing when conditions allow.

28-mile paved trail along the South Platte from Chatfield State Park through downtown to Brighton. Connects to Cherry Creek Trail at Confluence Park for 100+ miles of trails. Flat, good for cycling, running, skating. Free. Downtown section goes past REI and several breweries.

2,600 acres with a swim beach, kayaking/SUP lake, 15 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, horseback riding, archery range, and disc golf. Vehicle entry $10 weekdays, $12 weekends. Kayak and SUP rentals in summer.

8 lighted outdoor pickleball courts, free, first-come first-served. Quiet equipment pilot location so you must use foam Librarian Pickleball balls. Busy mornings and evenings, midday is your best bet for open courts.

66 indoor pickleball courts across 7 rec centers (Ashland, College View, Green Valley Ranch, La Alma, Rude, St. Charles, Swansea). $7 day pass or $31 monthly. Permanent pickleball lines and nets.

Denver's largest recreational social sports league offering kickball, sand volleyball, soccer, flag football, softball, dodgeball, bowling, cornhole, and more. Leagues run year-round across parks and indoor facilities. Season typically 6-8 weeks plus playoffs. Individual registration available if you do not have a team. Prices vary by sport, typically $50-80 per player per season. Post-game bar sponsors included.

Denver's official adult slowpitch softball program, 1,000+ teams registered annually. All skill levels. Spring, summer, fall seasons. Also indoor volleyball at rec centers. Team registration required but some leagues have free agent signup.

Rec center with leisure pool and water slide, lap pool, gym, weight room, indoor track, fitness studios, and indoor pickleball. $7 drop-in, $31/month membership.

Hilltop park with panoramic Rocky Mountain views. The Astro Sundial at the top identifies peaks from Longs to Pikes. Open lawns, playground, walking paths. Good sunset spot. Free parking.

Kayak and SUP rental shop near Confluence Park. Single kayak $50/day, SUP $55/day. Also guided river trips, instruction, and tube rentals for floating the South Platte in summer. Right next to Cherry Creek and Platte River trails.

Lighted outdoor basketball courts at the former Lowry Air Force Base, well-maintained. Free, first-come first-served. Also has tennis courts, playground, open fields, and a rec center. Less crowded than City Park. Free parking.